The Mountain Plover 



Authorities. — A. M. Ingersoll (Aegialitis wilsonia), Nidiologist, vol. ii., 1895, 

 p. 87 (Pacific Beach, San Diego Co., June 29, 1894, 1 spec); ibid.. Condor, vol. xx., 

 1918, p. 187 (Imperial Beach, San Diego Co., May). 



A SINGLE example of this southern species, a male, was found by 

 Mr. A. M. Ingersoll at Pacific Beach, San Diego County, on the 24th of 

 June, 1894. It was in close company with a group of Snowy Plovers 

 which nested at that spot, and it shared in the most marked degree their 

 solicitude over an imperilled set of eggs. Mr. Ingersoll concluded, 

 however, after careful study, that the visitor was unmated, a wanderer 

 from the south, and he collected it five days later. 



The Wilson Plover is known to occur on the coasts of Lower Cali- 

 fornia, but its status as a resident of that region is still unsettled. It is 

 essentially a beach bird, active and very noisy, and not likely to be 

 confused with our modest "Snowy." 



No. 260 



Mountain Plover 



A. O. U. Xo. 281. Podasocys montanus (J. K. Tovvnsend). 



Synonym. — Prairie Plover. 



Description. — Adults in breeding plumage: Upperparts uniform grayish brown 

 (hair-brown or "snipe-gray"), typically pure but occasionally washed with ochraceous 

 or tawny; underparts white, without black collar, but sides of breast like back, and an 

 obscure wash of this grayish shade across breast; a bar on fore-crown and a loral line 

 from bill to eye black; forehead and superciliary white; primary coverts, wing-quills, 

 and exposed portion of tail chiefly blackish. Bill black; legs dusky, feet blackening. 

 Adult in winter: Duller, without black; the upper plumage, cheeks, and sides of breast 

 skirted with ochraceous and tawny; wash of breast darker. Immature: Like adult in 

 winter, upper plumage still more extensively rusty with broad skirtings; ground-color 

 a little darker. Measurements, av. of 10 Cal. specimens: length 231 (9.10): wing 

 145.3 (5-72); tail 62.4 (2.46); bill 21 (.83); tarsus 39.9 (1.57). 



Recognition Marks. — Size and general proportions of Killdeer, but stands 

 higher; no black on chest, distinctive; no black on head in plumage usually seen; 

 prairie- or plain- rather than beach-haunting. 



Nesting. — Does not breed in California. Nest: A "scrape," or slight hollow, 

 on the ground of bare prairie. Eggs: 3 (4 of record); ovate, less pointed than those 

 of other plovers; deep olive-buff to dark olive-buff, boldly and rather heavily spotted 

 with black, the spots much larger than those of the Charadrius group. Av. size 37.6 

 x 28.2 (1.48 x 1. 12); index 75.6. Season: May; one brood. 



General Range. — Breeds on the arid plains east of the Rocky Mountains from 

 northern Montana to northern New Mexico and northwestern Texas. Winters from 

 northern California and northern Texas south to Lower California and northern 

 Mexico. 



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